Doberman Pinscher Myths, Urban Legends and the biggest scam - "Warlocks" 


What is a "Warlock" Doberman (also known as "Kings" or "Goliaths")?

Back in the 1970's, Dobermans experienced a sudden surge in popularity. Many inexperienced and naive people were lining up to acquire a Dobe and they often wanted a stereotypical "big, bad guard dog". Unfortunately for the breed, money-hungry and unscrupulous scum bag breeders responded to the demand by breeding for grossly oversized dogs. Sometimes, it is believed, Dobes were bred to Great Danes and other larger breeds, breeding reports and registration applications were falsified and the Doberman breed suffered long-term damage.

To this day, people who are uneducated about Dobermans still proudly proclaim their ownership of a "Warlock". Technically, there is no such thing. The term "Warlock" (or "King" or "Goliath") simply refers to a poorly-bred, oversized dog that does not conform to the breed standard and is just as undesirable as a Dobe who is significantly smaller than the breed standard calls for. To view the complete AKC breed standard for Doberman Pinschers click here. Also read the story of Borong The Warlock.

A short summary of the Doberman breed standard regarding size (as maintained by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and the American Kennel Club) is:

General Appearance:

The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with a body that is square. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed. Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.

Size, Proportion, Substance:

Height at the withers: "Dogs 26 to 28 inches, ideal about 27 1/2 inches; Bitches 24 to 26 inches, ideal about 25 1/2 inches. The height, measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers, equaling the length measured horizontally from the fore chest to the rear projection of the upper thigh. Length of head, neck and legs in proportion to length and depth of body."

Oversized Dobermans lose the agility, speed and ability to turn and maneuver quickly - all traits and qualities necessary for a working breed. The bigger the dog, the less agile, quick and maneuverable he is. He is also likely to be more prone to joint and bone problems, as well as other health problems associated with very large breed dogs. Unfortunately, to this day, unethical breeders continue to prey on the unknowledgeable public by charging outrageous prices for dogs with this undesirable size fault. The best thing you can do in this situation is to NOT buy any dogs from this low life red neck wanna be breeder. These dogs are MUTANTS, they are not pure bred Doberman Pinschers and not only will you regret your purchase later when any knowledgeable Doberman owner sees your dog laughs and shakes their head at you. Plus these dogs are susceptible to many health problems as well. Do yourself a favor and buy from a reputable breeder. If you are reading this, it's obvious that you are doing research and learning about Dobermans and you are interested in buying a quality verifiable pure bred Doberman. So read, learn, do as much research as possible on locating a great real Doberman and don't fall for any scams and buy a cross bred freak. It took me 2 years to research and find the Dobie you see at the top of the page. Do I regret taking all that time to find the right dog? - NO.

If you already own a "Warlock", deal with it and love him for the rest of his life - he deserves it. But next time, if you want a giant-sized dog, buy a Great Dane. I have owned about a dozen Danes over the last 30 years - they're great except for the fact that they have a short life span. Where Dobermans are concerned, bigger is definitely NOT better. (I'm waiting anxiously to see how popular a 29 inch, 100 pound Chihuahua might be.)

What is a "white" Doberman?

Albino Dobermans. This is another freak to stay away from. There is no such thing as a "white" Doberman. A "white" dog (for example, a white German Shepherd) has dark eyes and a relatively dark-pigmented skin and nose. There IS, sadly, an albino Doberman, actually classified as a tyrosine positive albino. These dogs have pink skin and nose, and blue eyes (or light yellow in a few specimens). Albino Dobes have a white or cream-colored coat with light tan markings. Albinos suffer from photosensitivity. This means that the dogs cannot tolerate sunlight or bright light, often closing or squinting their eyes and bumping into objects when put in unfamiliar surroundings. They will often burn and blister if exposed for much time in sunlight. They also go blind. They classically have temperament problems, ranging from being shy, fear-biters to hyper-aggressive. Again, though, because they are relatively rare (thankfully), unethical breeders strive to produce them and charge outrageous prices, advertising them as "rare and exotic". Responsible breeders deplore the breeding of albino Dobermans. Albinos can be registered with the AKC but the white color is a disqualification and these dogs cannot compete in the conformation ring. As with the "Warlocks", if you own one now, love and care for it for its whole life but PLEASE do not perpetuate the breeding of these poor animals by buying another. Don't be a fool a second time.

What about "exploding brains" and do Dobermans eventually "turn" on their owners?

We can offer no explanation for the origins of these outrageous fallacies. Knowledgeable Doberman people merely shake their heads in wonderment at the total lunacy of these claims. Any dog of any breed (just like any person) may possibly develop brain tumors or other brain disorders, and brain/neurological problems could have temperament-related symptoms. Perhaps a situation like this gave rise to the "exploding brain" myth - we can only guess. Dobermans are no more predisposed to brain cancer or aneurisms than any other breed or mix-breed. And any dog, if abused, could certainly display aggression toward its abuser, even if that abuser is its owner. But common sense should lead people to dispel these blanket, ridiculous assertions. If you believe this myth, do yourself a favor and don't buy any pet, instead buy yourself a stuffed animal toy.

BORONG THE WARLOCK
by Jim Kearns

Every field has its legends. In the entertainment world Elvis Presley has become a legend. Although he has been dead for a number of years, his popularity amongst many people has increased. Each year people spend more money on visiting his home Graceland in Memphis than Elvis usually earned in a year. There are many who still make a living impersonating him. There are stories constantly popping up in the supermarket newspapers stating that he is still alive. He has become a legend although many considered him just a better than average singer, actor, and entertainer.

In the Doberman world, there is also a legend. His name is Borong the Warlock. It is not unusual for someone to call a Doberman club Breed Referral number and say, "I have this Warlock male. He is a fawn and one hundred and ten pounds. I want to breed him to a bitch that is strong and exceptional, preferably a Warlock bitch." Or for another caller to state, "My bitch is a Warlock but she is getting old, I would like to get another Warlock bitch." Members of many Doberman clubs report that they get calls very similar to the ones just described.

In 1973, there was a person who lived in Pasadena, Texas who told people that her Dobermans were Warlocks. She did a lot of breeding and sold her puppies to people who really did not know much about Dobermans. The Dobermans she bred were not exceptional and in some instances were rather poor specimens of the breed. That was more than twenty years ago!

Was there a Warlock? If there was, why do people still use his name? Frank Grover in The Doberman Scribe, No. 7, in an article entitled "American Doberman Pinscher Legends" wrote about Borong the Warlock. Frank stated, "The Doberman who began the legend was born in Florida in the middle 1950's. His breeders were Theodosia and Henry Frampton. They named this pup Borong the Warlock."

A warlock is a male witch, sorcerer, wizard or demon. Grover points out that the name did not describe Borong because he was a direct, rather quiet-mannered dog, well trained and never aggressive toward anyone nor other dogs.

Borong was not picked as best in his litter. The pup adhered himself to Henry Frampton. Many thought that it was the pup that picked Henry rather than Henry picking the pup. When the pup grew up, Henry began to show Borong and he began winning. This was the beginning of what would go on for years.

Borong came along at the right time. In the early 1950's, the Doberman world was dominated by Rancho Doberman's Storm, a back to back Best in Show winner at Westminster in 1952 and 1953. Storm was never beaten in the breed ring and he dominated Doberman publicity all over the nation. When Storm retired, exhibitors and judges foundered for a while. There were also many who resented Storm's successes and his popularity, and were looking for a different kind of Doberman. Borong fit the bill. He was clearly a different kind of Doberman. Grover states that breeder judges welcomed him. Forty years later, Storm's wins are history; Warlock's name is legend.

Henry Frampton's business required that he travel a great deal around the country. He took Borong with him and showed him at shows that were near where his business appointments were. Borong was shown all over the country and became known. Henry was sociable and friendly. He talked to people and he told them of Borong's achievements. When Borong did not win Best in Breed at a show, Henry would tell the judge what Borong had accomplished and what he had won. He would do this politely and when he showed under the same judge again Borong would usually win.

In 1957, Borong won Best in Breed at the DPCA National. Henry continued to show Borong. When jet travel began in 1959, Henry told people he could buy two first class seats, one for him and one for Borong. Henry also trained Borong in obedience and Ch. Borong the Warlock, CD, was the only male that went Best of Breed at the National with an obedience title. He went Best in Breed at three Nationals. Breeders eventually sought him out because they wanted winning pups. One of his daughters won the National. In his old age he won his first all-breed Best in Show. Many of the pups he sired in his later years established him as one of the fine sires of his time.

Before Borong retired Henry Frampton took him to Germany where he competed against the top German Dobermans. It was at a time when the German members of the breed were aggressive towards other dogs and judges. Borong was a quiet, well mannered Doberman without an enemy in the world. He came in second and Henry complained about this for a long time stating that the judging was done using temperament rather than the conformation of Borong.

Borong's career ended when Henry Frampton died of a heart attack. It was not long after that Borong died. The many who knew how close Borong was to Henry thought the great Doberman died of grief over losing his human companion.

The legends grew from his fame. His interesting name helped the growth of the legends. It is reported that the legends started in Texas where some of Borong's excellent descendants lived. People began to believe there were signs that identified a Doberman as a Warlock. The sign could be a lock of hair, a great size, small but powerful, a look in the eye, or something else. The name "Warlock" had an air of mystery about it and people began to see all sorts of signs that a Doberman was a Warlock descendant.

In the 1970's, Doberman Pinschers began to experience a phenomenal increase in popularity. It was a period when people living in the suburbs began to discover that they were not safe from crime. The Doberman, according to the AKC, became the "watch dog of the moment". The "moment" lasted for years. The breed that traditionally ranked around 20th in annual AKC registrations moved up to 2nd in registrations by the early 1980s. Grover states, "When Dobermans were being bred by everyone and sold as ways to get rich quick, hundreds were sold in the underground as Warlocks, each with a secret sign of distinction and value known only to a few."

The legend has been used by some to take money from people under false pretenses. It has been used by others to see what they would like to see. When all of that is stripped away, Borong the Warlock was a wonderful dog, an outstanding member of the breed, and an ambassador for all Dobermans with an unusual name. Most of all Borong was a great companion to his owner, Henry Frampton.

Over the years Warlock has been associated with oversized Dobermans. Doberman fanciers in Texas thought this was just a local phenomenon, but there have been reports that there are "Warlocks" in many other states. Because of their size, the "Warlocks" are not shown and have no connection to the original Borong the Warlock.

There probably always will be breeders telling people their puppies are "Warlocks" so the name will live on. Regardless of their size and their pedigree or lack of pedigree, the Warlocks have one thing in common with the best of the Dobermans in the show ring and that is they are loved by the people who own them. When one of them dies the owner will start looking for another Warlock.